Filed to story: The Mindf*ck Series Read Online Free
Donny’s eyes widen, and so do mine.
“I sound so fucked up. I’m more concerned over two law officials than I am a fucking serial killer. This town is pure toxic,” Logan says on a sigh.
“Johnson is twisted, but he’s not an idiot. He knows he can’t lay a hand on you and get away with it. We need to find some solid evidence to give to Collins so he can give it to the subcommittee.”
“There’s someone obvious we haven’t spoken to since we acquired new evidence,” Logan says thoughtfully. “He only lives about an hour from here.”
“Christopher Denver,” Donny says on an exhale. “Of course.”
Jake’s father. My father’s lawyer. My father’s only friend in a town of traitors.
We knew they’d get around to talking to him sometime.
My eyes pop over to the school screen, seeing Jake with his hood on as he takes quick strokes, hurrying the paintjob. Everyone is inside the school, and the windows are above his head, making it impossible to look out and see him.
I can’t believe he’s doing it in daylight right out front though. Fortunately, the streets are mostly quiet, and when he hears a car, he ducks behind the holly bushes.
Finally, I see Jake jogging around the side, heading into the woods that will spit him out right back here. My attention returns to Logan, and I focus solely on him.
“Who keeps calling?” Donny asks him as Logan silences his phone again.
“Johnson. I’m sure he’s trying to find a way to throw us off this investigation. By now he’s probably already heard we talked to Diana Barnes in private. He may be wanting to find out what we know.”
“Let’s go talk to Denver before he finds out what we’re doing.”
Logan glances at the time on his phone. “Okay, but I want to be back before it gets too late and make sure Lana is good.”
“Call her from the road, lover boy,” Donny says, rolling his eyes as Logan takes the driver’s seat of the car. Logan seems to be laughing about it.
I can’t hear what they’re saying when they shut the doors, but I mute everything when my phone rings.
“Hey,” I say, smiling like a little girl with a crush.
“I need to run out of town to work on a lead. Any chance you’d go back home? I don’t like you being here.”
I smile, loving the way he cares. My eyes flick to the screen where people are passing by the school, slowly gathering as the paint appears.
“I think Delaney Grove is growing on me.”
He groans at the terrible joke.
“Logan, stop worrying. I’d rather be with you, or at least close to you, than sitting around wondering about you and if you’re safe.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about, babe. I can take care of myself.”
I can take care of you better.
My eyes move up as Elise and Leonard arrive on scene, taking pictures of the new message.
“Stop worrying about me. I doubt this guy even cares who I am.”
He grows quiet for a long minute.
“Logan?”
“Sorry. Was just thinking about how you completely ruin psychology.”
“How so?”
“Because you were attacked by a known serial killer because of my job, yet you stubbornly want to stay, acting as though the thought of another coming after you doesn’t faze you.”
I swallow hard. Never once has he sounded suspicious. Even now he sounds more confused than suspicious.
“I have a gun,” I tell him softly. “And I don’t want to be in my house.”
I close my eyes, hating the fact the lie will make him feel guilt.
“Go back to the hotel.”
“No,” I say on a sigh.
“Shit. We’ll resume this conversation later. Elise is beeping me.”
“Love you,” I say without hesitation, finding the words rolling off my tongue with natural ease.
“Love you.” I can hear the smile in his voice even as someone makes gagging sounds in the background.
Just as I hang up with him, Jake walks in, eyeing me as I try to wipe the dopey look off my face.
“As soon as this is over, I’m going to find my own goofy grin,” he grumbles, but the smile in his eyes betrays his Grinch-stole-Christmas tone. “Did I miss it?”
“Just getting started,” I tell him, motioning to the wall of the school.
The lies we tell influences them. The present is pregnant with the future.
The message is getting a lot of pale faces as it finishes appearing like magic.
“Logan is leaving town, and the sun isn’t too far from setting. I’m going to Diana’s.”
As I stand, Jake tosses up my knife, and I catch it by the handle as he takes my seat in front of the monitors.
“Stick to the sidewalks. The boots won’t lie,” he says, eyeing my girly combat boots that are fully equipped with blood red shoestrings.
Walking around with my weighted bags and my men’s boots might be a little suspicious.
The cold has washed in, which is perfect. It makes wearing a hoodie less conspicuous. I nearly froze to death in my dress.
But I wanted to return home in style-wearing the color red.
“Lay out pillows in case she faints,” he says as I walk out, and I smirk while taking the brisk walk, maneuvering the shortcuts through the buildings. The town is built like a circular maze, the roads getting wider as they circle the city. Town hall is directly in the center.
From the sky, it’s amazingly beautiful.
It’s only ugly when you’re in the middle of it and can see the truth.
I walk around back to keep anyone from seeing me at the front, and I knock twice, checking over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching.
When Diana opens the door, my heart unexpectedly sputters. I thought I’d steeled myself against any emotion I might feel when I came here.
I blame Logan. He’s tearing away the ice I put in place.
“Can I help you, hun?” she asks sweetly.
I push the hood back. “You could let me in.”
Her eyes narrow, and her smile slips.
I feel like an ass for scaring her.
“Diana, I need to talk to you, and you know what you told them today.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I think you should go,” she says, closing the door.
My hand shoots out, and I shoulder my way in, feeling worse when she gasps and stumbles back, trembling.
She’s on edge because she told the story no one else has had the balls to.
“Diana, I need you to sit down. I don’t want you to get hurt, and I’m only here to keep you safe.”